Water bags

[etrangere]

I know most of the people on the forum are tassies where water is much easier to find. Here in WA water is not quite so readily available so will need to perhaps carry more on me. I have used the StS water bags 2 x 6 liter around camp when 4wd camping, just filling them from a jerry can, seemed to work well but a bit wary of having one in a backpack full of clothes, sleeping bag etc.

I have seen good reviews of the msr dromedary bags on the REI website. What does everyone here use to carry water in their packs? How much do they take and do they use multiple smaller bags eg 2 x 6L or single 10L etc

[Teegs]

For short hikes (1-2 nights) we take an old plastic softdrink bottle, plus a 3lt bladder (camelpack) each. The old drink bottles are tough as nails, the lids seal well (made to take liquid under pressure) and weigh next to nothing.

I rember back in school when we did our hiking trip, one kid had an old plastic coke bottle that he dragged behind him for the 2 days....yep tied a rope around his waist and dragged the full bottle (to this day I dont know why he dragged it). The bottle didnt look very pretty by the end of the trip but it still held water!

[ninjapuppet]

on my recent trip, i had a brand new cambelback, filled up and left in the top lid of my pack, and it started leaking gatorade on the first day! I just couldnt believe how such a good brand like that could leak and make my contents all sticky. THis was right at the start of the overland, so i chucked it, and bought one of them cheap $29 bladders from the rangers station at the start, and that was fine on the overland. the various accessories from camelback fit this cheap bladder perfectly.

I have a few platypus which have been bombproof for years, very light, and stands up right on its own, but i just dont like how the opening is so narrow. I just got myself a 4L dromedary for near half price at LaFuma on Kent st sydney. it seems really good quality compared to other bladders, and worthy of its extra cost. i filled it up and sat on it fine. its standard wide mouth allows me to easily connect my water filter to it. its got the same connection as a nalgene.

however, i think its a fair bit heavier than my 3L platypus for grams per Litre used unless you get the larger 8L one. i just chuck the straps out, and replaced the 3 in 1 cap to lighten it abit. also, after washing it and trying to dry it, the material outer doesnt let sunlight in much to dry the thing. you also cant tell if its dried properly. just scared to store it away with moisture inside incase the dampness grows mould or something

[stu]

I made a few comments in the following thread a month or so back:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3108&start=60

Definitely go with multiple containers IMHO, you never know when ones gonna bust leaving you in a bind.
Even tho I usually take at least 1 x 2L Platypus bottle from my collection I don't trust them anymore;
they are prone to splitting at the neck where the soft material connects to the stiffer plastic stem, I have had 2 split in this spot & know others who have had the same problem.
I do like the MSR bags & have been using a Dromlite of late combined with 2 Sigg type bottles, time will tell whether they are up to a beating tho.

You've said you think Tassies not dry, well it's not really in essence, but water can be quite scarce on some ranges, for days on end, & hard to access.
Most 'popular' walks are ok but there are many notoriously dry ranges, particularly in the South-West (Prince of Wales Range, Frankland Range etc.).
Best to carry a yabby tube as well - I usually take 1m x 6mm dia. & always have a cup at the stand by to get my fill rather than draining bottles.

[sthughes]

I use old goon (or water) bladders. They are cheap but you need to be a little careful as they certainly do burst if you drop the pack with them in it. Whatever I carry goes in the pack, but on the outside of the pack liner. Like Stu said - multiples is better as water is one item you don't want to be without!

[photohiker]

I've used a 750ml camelback bottle with the teat gadget for a water on the move. Heavy, but convenient. Other than that, multiple platypus bottles. Haven't broken one yet...

[etrangere]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I tend to agree with the 2 smaller containers rather than 1 big one. Excuse my ignorance but whats a "yabby tube"? I'm assuming its a length of tube to access water in hard to get spots, am i right? I have just bought a Katadyn Pocket filter and was thinking some extra tubing to add to the filter hose to lengthen it might be a good idea. BTW bought it from Moontrails.com for $270 rather than the $500 sold here in OZ....gotta love online shopping!

[north-north-west]

I have a 3l Source bladder with tube for walking - I like to be able to drink whenever I feel like it, without removing the pack or trying to dig a bottle out of the side pocket.
If I'm heading somewhere without readily available water, I'll take extra containers. I have a 4l MSR Dromedary, six years old and still in good nick although the valve on the drinking tube started leaking so I don't bother with that. Plus often a bottle or two. And, if I'm really rolling in luxury, a can of coke.

Pity water's so heavy. Last weekend I hauled 8l of the stuff up the north face of MacDonald. *groan*

[Son of a Beach]

whats a "yabby tube"? I'm assuming its a length of tube to access water in hard to get spots

pretty much. See the topic here for lots of informatiom or look it up in the site wiki also.

[etrangere]

Thanks Nik, searched the site instead of just doing a regular google search doh!